Gordon still learning as he plans next season

Driver/owner upbeat even after 'rollercoaster' season

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Asked for one word to describe his 2005 season and first as a Nextel Cup team owner, Robby Gordon's immediate response was "rollercoaster."

In this case, a rollercoaster that's had a lot more downs than ups. After missing the Daytona 500 and four of the first 10 races on the schedule, Gordon's new team has spent the entire season trying without success to break into the top 35.

Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Robby Gordon in 2005 Venue Start Finish Fontana 25 35 Las Vegas 27 39 Atlanta 26 34 Martinsville 43 20 Texas 33 37 Phoenix 43 37 Richmond 33 31 Charlotte 25 27 Dover 39 29 Pocono 27 39 Michigan 8 39 Sonoma 5 16 Daytona 11 26 Chicago 12 35 Loudon 31 30 Pocono 29 4 Indianapolis 13 24 Watkins Glen 39 2 Michigan 39 30 Bristol 33 38 Fontana 24 34 Richmond 38 35 Loudon 19 37 Dover 33 39 Talladega 22 23 Average 27.1 31.0

"In 2005, we learned a lot," Gordon said Friday at Kansas Speedway while preparing for Sunday's Banquet 400. "I've been telling a lot of people we'll never be new again.

"We've got a lot of our processes and procedures, systems in place, which is helping us be more prepared each weekend we show up at the racetrack."

The highlight of the season so far has been a second at Watkins Glen, but Gordon believes the team has been much better than the finishes have shown.

"We've been running pretty decent lately," Gordon said. "We find ourselves inside the top 15 about every weekend and something or other happens and we're not getting the results we want.

"Every weekend we learn something completely new that we thought we had it covered."

Gordon said engine reliability was a major problem early on, but the team has been working hard to correct it.

"The biggest challenge for us has obviously been our engine package," Gordon said. "It's been a challenge for Menard Engineering and for everybody. A new team, it's been tough."

Despite the challenges of starting a team from scratch, Gordon said he's not discouraged. In fact, he's already making plans for 2006. He wouldn't disclose specifics, but he said all but one of his sponsors would be back next year, and he has another sponsor ready to take its place.

"We've got some changes coming in in the very near future," Gordon said. "We've got some plans we're making, some people we're acquiring from top teams across the industry. That'll definitely help us next year.

"I feel really good about 2006. We've got some really neat things going on."